Container handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a container handling apparatus for use with a container having opposed geometrically enclosed female members on its sidewalls. Two opposed shoulder members extend outwardly from a support frame. A cylinder and guiding mechanism equally and simultaneously move the shoulder members. A depending arm is attached to each of the shoulder members and a rotatable male engaging member is connected to the distal end of each of the depending arms. The male engaging members have a shape complementary with the enclosed female members and power cylinders are provided for rotating the male engaging members.

[ 1 June20, 1972 [54] CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS 1,855,862 4/1932McCannetal.

mm e a su 3 r mm mm am m Wm Attomey-Owen & Owen [22] Filed: March 16,1970 7] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a container handlingapparatus for use with a container having opposed geometrically enclosedfemale members on its sidewalls. Two opposed shoulder members extendoutwardly from a support frame. A cylinder and guiding mechanism equallyand simultaneously move the shoulder members. A depending arm isattached to each of the [21] Appl. No.:

[56] References Cned shoulder members and a rotatable male engagingmember is UNITED STATES PATENTS connected to the distal end of each ofthe depending arms.

The male engaging members have a shape complementary with the enclosedfemale members and power cylinders are provided for rotating the maleengaging members.

D823 ow 4% 944 11 m2 2 "n k kmc yhm an uu QDS PATENTEDJUR 20 1912 SHEET10F 4 INVENTOR. 1 GLENN E. DUNBAR. I BY .A T T ys.

PATENTEDJUH 20 1912 SHEET 20F 4 .AT rys INVENTOR: ELENN EDUNBAR.

PATENTEmum 1912 SHEET 3 0F 4 3,670,912

I V KL M 1 INVENTOR. GLENN G. DUNBAR.

ATTYB.

CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The handling ofcontainers, for example factory waste containers, has been a problem. Iftruck mounted units, for example fork lift trucks, are utilized theyoften create a safety hazard. On the other hand, if a standard chainhoist is utilized, it is very difficult to discharge the contents of thecontainer.

Furthermore, in a construction yard situation container handlingequipment should be quick, efficient and relatively inexpensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a containerhandling apparatus which is suitable for use in a factory in connectionwith, for example, a chain hoist or alternatively in a yard inconnection with, for example, a truck mounted yard crane.

A container handling apparatus, according to the present invention,includes a longitudinally extending support frame. Two opposed shouldermembers extend outwardly from the support frame and guiding means areprovided for equally and simultaneously moving said opposed shouldermembers inwardly and outwardly relative to the support frame. Adepending arm is attached to each of the shoulder members and arotatable male engaging member is operatively connected adjacent thedistal end of each of the depending arms. The male engaging members havea shape complementary with the enclosed female members which are mountedon the sidewalls of the container and power means are provided forrotating the male engaging members.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide containerhandling apparatus for the moving and dumping of large containers. It isanother object of the present invention to provide apparatus forlifting, moving and emptying containers of various sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of acontainer handling ap paratus according to the present invention andshowing a pair of superposed movable containers;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the upper portion ofthe apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2 and shownon an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a rack and pinion mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, elevational view of a depending arm of theapparatus;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the depending arm shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, side view of the depending arm of the apparatusand showing a movable container in an inverted position; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, side view of the depending arm of theapparatus, similar to FIG. 9, with the movable container in an uprightposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A container handling apparatus,according to the present invention, is generally indicated in thedrawings by the reference number 10. The container handling apparatus 10includes a longitudinally extending support frame 11 which preferablyhas an attaching bracket 12 located at its midpoint. The attachingbracket 12 includes a lifting rod 13 (see FIG. 10) which is suitable forengagement by a lifting hook 14 of, for example, a chain hoist or a yardcrane.

A pair of opposed shoulder members 16 and 17 extend outwardly from thesupport frame 11. In the present embodiment, the support frame 11includes an upper tubular member 18 which receives and guides the twoopposed shoulder members 16 and 17. (See FIG. 3) The shoulder members 16and 17 are constructed of channels which are welded together forming arectangular cross section (see FIG. 4). The support frame 11 alsoincludes a bottom channel support 19 which is supported below the uppertubular member 18 by a plurality of side plates 20. A cylinder 21 ispositioned on the bottom channel support 19. Components of the cylinder21 are free to move with respect to the bottom channel support 19. Adepending arm 22 is mounted on the outer end of the shoulder member 16and, in like manner, a depending arm 23 is mounted on the outer end ofthe shoulder member 17. A mounting bracket 24 is fixed to the dependingarm 22 and a mounting bracket 25 is fixed to the depending arm 23. Thecylinder 21 is' connected between the-brackets 24 and 25.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2-5, a geared rack 27 is mounted on theshoulder member 16 and extends inwardly. Similarly, a geared rack 28 ismounted in an opposed manner on the shoulder member 17 and also extendsinwardly. Referring to FIG. 5, a rectangular mounting box 29 having atransverse opening 30 is welded or otherwise afiixed to the midpoint ofthe upper tubular member 18. An idler pinion 31 is mounted for rotationwithin the box 29 by a pin 32 which extends through the opening 30. Theteeth of the idler pinion 31 mesh with the teeth of the opposed gearedracks 27 and 28. Therefore, when the cylinder 21 is actuated, anymovement of the shoulder member 16 and its rack 27 results in an equaland opposite movement of the opposed shoulder 17 and its rack 28.Therefore, the idler pinion 31 and its associated racks 27 and 28 serveas part of the guiding means for equally and simultaneously moving theopposed shoulder members 16 and 17 inwardly and outwardly relative tothe support frame 1 1.

The arm22hasadistal end34andthearm23hasadistal end 35. A triangularlyshaped male engaging member 36 is mounted for rotation adjacent thedistal end 34 and a male engaging member 37 is mounted for rotationadjacent the distal end 35.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 6-8, the distal end 34 of the dependingarm 22 has an opening 38 (see FIG. 8) which receives sleeves 39 and 40.A shaft 41 extends through the sleeves 39 and 40 and the sleeves 39 and40 are pinned or otherwise aflixed to the shaft 41. The male engagingmember 36 is fixably mounted adjacent the inner end of the shaft 41. Themale engaging member 36 is spaced from the sleeve 40 by a spacer washer42. The male engaging member 37 is mounted on the distal end 35 of thedepending arm 23 in a similar manner.

Mounting brackets 44 and 45 are provided adjacent the upper end of thearms 22 and 23. A cylinder 46 is connected to the mounting bracket 44and a cylinder 47 is connected to the mounting bracket 45. Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, the lower end of the cylinder 46 is connected to a crankmember 48. In a similar manner, the lowermost end of the cylinder 47 isconnected to a crank member 49. The crank members 48 and 49 areoperatively connected to the rotatable male engaging members 36 and 37,respectively.

More specifically, the crank member 48 has an upper leg section 50 (seeFIG. 7) and a perpendicular lower leg section 51. The leg section 51 iswelded or otherwise fixed to the sleeves 39 and 40.

The cylinders 46 and 47 act as power means to rotate the male engagingmembers 36 and 37. Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, when the cylinder 46is extended or retracted, force is transferred to the crank member 48.The cylinder force, acting through its leg section 51, rotates thesleeves 39 and 40 which are pinned to the shaft 41. The triangularshaped male engaging member 36 rotates with the shaft 41. The maleengaging member 37 is rotated in a similar manner.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 9 and 10 a container 53, suitable for use with thecontainer handling apparatus 10, is shown. The container 53 has opposedsidewalls 54 and 55. A pair of converging angle members 56 and 57 aremounted on the opposed sidewalls 54 and 55. A bottom member 58 extendsbetween the angle members 56 and 57. The angle members 56 and 57together with the bottom member 58 form an enclosed female member 59. Inthe present embodiment, the geometrically enclosed female members 59 aretriangular in shape, however, other types of geometric shapes may beutilized, for example, pentagonal shapes.

In a typical operation, the container handling apparatus is moved intoposition over the container 53. The cylinder 21 is extended and thedepending arms 22 and 23 assume the solid lineposition shown in FIG. 1.Thecylinder 21 is then retracted. The rotatable male engaging members 36and 37 move inwardly and are received by the enclosed female members 59,as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 1. The hoist, chain lift or otherlifting means moves the container 53 to a discharge location. At thattime an actuator 61 (shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1), which isoperatively connected to the cylinders 46 and 47, is energized and thecylinders 46 and 47 are extended. Extension of the cylinders 46 and 47rotates the respective crank members 48 and 49 to the position shown inFIG. 9. When in this position, the contents of the container 53 falloutwardly under the force of gravity, however, the container 53 isrestrained from falling by the mating relationship of the rotatable maleengaging members 36 and 37 and the respective female members 59. Afterthe contents have been removed from the container 53 the cylinders 46and 47 are retracted and the container 53 assumes its upright position,shown in FIG. 10. At this time, the cylinder 21 is extended and therotatable male engaging members 36 and 37 are moved outwardly from thefemale members 59.

It has been found that a container handling apparatus, constructedaccording to the present invention, provides a very efficient structurefor the handling of container borne materials.

What I claim is:

l. A container moving and dumping apparatus for use with a movablecontainer having opposed female members on its sidewalls, each of thefemale members comprising a triangularly enclosed receptacle, saidapparatus comprising a longitudinally extending support frame, twoopposed shoulder members extending outwardly from said support frame,said support frame including channel means for supporting and guidingsaid opposed shoulder members, means for equally and simultaneouslymoving said opposed shoulder members inwardly and outwardly relative tosaid support frame, said means including a geared rack connected to eachof said shoulder members, an idler pinion mounted on said channel meansadjacent said geared racks, said geared racks riding equally andoppositely relative to said idler pinion for equally and simultaneouslymoving said opposed shoulder members relative to said support frame andcylinder means for moving said shoulder members, a depending annattached to each of said shoulder members, a triangular shaped maleengaging member pivotally connected adjacent the distal end of each ofsaid depending arms, said male engaging members being movable into andout of the female members of the container, power means for rotatingsaid male engaging member, and a crank member operatively connectedbetween each of said rotatable male engaging members and the distal endof a respective one of said depending arms, said power means comprisinga cylinder operatively connected to one of said cranks for rotating therespective male engaging member.

2. A container moving and dumping apparatus, according to claim 1,including actuating means operatively connected to said power means forequal and simultaneous rotation of said male engaging members.

3. A container moving and dumping apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said cylinder means includes a cylinder operatively connected toeach of said depending arms for operatively moving said opposed shouldermembers relative to said support frame.

1. A container moving and dumping apparatus for use with a movablecontainer having opposed female members on its sidewalls, each of thefemale members comprising a triangularly enclosed receptacle, saidapparatus comprising a longitudinally extending support frame, twoopposed shoulder members extending outwardly from said support frame,said support frame including channel means for supporting and guidingsaid opposed shoulder members, means for equally and simultaneouslymoving said opposed shoulder members inwardly and outwardly relative tosaid support frame, said means including a geared rack connected to eachof said shoulder members, an idler pinion mounted on said channel meansadjacent said geared racks, said geared racks riding equally andoppositely relative to said idler pinion for equally and simultaneouslymoving said opposed shoulder members relative to said support frame andcylinder means for moving said shoulder members, a depending armattached to each of said shoulder members, a triangular shaped maleengaging member pivotally connected adjacent the distal end of each ofsaid depending arms, said male engaging members being movable into andout of the female members of the container, power means for rotatingsaid male engaging member, and a crank member operatively connectedbetween each of said rotatable male engaging members and the distal endof a respective one of said depending arms, said power means comprisinga cylinder operatively connected to one of said cranks for rotating therespective male engaging member.
 2. A container moving and dumpingapparatus, according to claim 1, including actuating means operativelyconnected to said power means for equal and simultaneous rotation ofsaid male engaging members.
 3. A container moving and dumping apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said cylinder means includes a cylinderoperatively connected to each of said depending arms for operativelymoving said opposed shoulder members relative to said support frame.